Wire tightener and splicer



(No Model.) S. P. R. TAYLOR, W. T. SHARMAN & J. L. JAMISON.

WIRE TIGHTENER AND SPLIGER.

N0..409,434. Patented Aug. 20, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

SHAPLEY P. ROSS TAYLOR, XVILLIAM T. SHARMAN, AND JOSEPH L. JAMISON,

OF DENISON, TEXAS.

WIRE TIGHT ENER AND SPLICER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,434, dated August 20, 1889.

Application il February 12, 1889. Serial No. 299,662. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, SHAPLEY P. ROSS TAYLOR, WILLIAM T. SHARMAN, and JOSEPH L. JAMIsON, of Denison, Grayson county, State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vire Tighteners and Splicers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in a new and improved device for tightening and splicing the wires of wire fences, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to furnish a device adapted to be used in tightening and splicing the wires of wire fences, which can be manufactured at a very small cost and sold at about five cents each, exclusive of the small operating lever, as hereinafter described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the device employed in tightening a slack wire. Fig. 2 shows the device employed in splicing the ends of a broken wire. Fig. 3 is a view of the device, taken from the front side thereof. Fig. 4 is a view taken from the rear side, and Fig. 5 is an edge view.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, the invention consists in a small circular metal plate A, about three inches in diameter, in which curved slots or openings B are cut or stamped, forming the wings G. The number of these slots and wings may of course be varied; but we prefer to form the plate with four slots, as shown in the drawings, making four wings. The pointed end D of each wing is bent up out of the plane of the body of the circular plate, while the other or squared end E of each wing is curved down below the plane of the body-plate in the opposite direction to that of the points of the wings. The curvature of the ends of each wing will be most clearly seen by reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings. To the center of the circular plate is riveted, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, one end of a short metal post or stem F, a little over an inch in length, the outer free end of this stein being compressed and flattened, as shown, to adapt it to fit immovably in the slotted end of a lever, which will be hereinafter described. The stem F is also formed with a transverse opening or aperture f.

G indicates the lever by means of which the disks are turned in tightening and splicin g the wires, this lever consisting of a straight handle having formed longitudinally in one end a slot H, in which the flattened free end of the disk-stein exactly fits. This leveris usually about sixteen inches long. One lever ,is all that one man requires in attaching any number of disks. 7

The manner in which the invention is 01)- erated in tightening up a slack wire is as follows: The disk is placed face down 011 the wire with the post F up, when the lever is placed on the disk with the flattened end of the stem fitting in the slot in theend of the lever. The disk is then turned to the right by the lever, when the downwardly-bent rear ends of two opposite wings C will pass under the wire, and as the disk is rotated the wire will be twisted around the stem F above the disk. The disk is turned until the slack is all taken up and the wire tightened. Then the disk is permitted to turn slightly in the opposite direction to the left, when the raisedpoints of two opposite wings will pass over the wire, and the disk will be thus locked on the wire and held at the point to which it was turned when the wire was effectually tightened. The lever is then lifted off the disk, ready to be used in rotating the next disk.

To splice two ends of wire together, the said ends are passed through the perforation fin the stem F, the disk being held stem upward, when the lever is placed on the stem and the disk turned to the right, as before, until the slack is taken up, the ends of the wire wrapping around the stem F. The raised points of two opposite wings are then caught over the wires, as shown in Fig. 2, and the lever is then removed, leaving the disk locked on the spliced ends.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood. It will be seen that the disks can be readily and easily applied both to tighten slack wires and to splice broken wires, when, as soon as the object is effected, the lever is lifted off, leaving each disk in position. The disks are exceedingly simple and strong in construction,and can be sold at about five cents each, while only one hand-lever is required by each person, and the lever is plain, simple, and cheap in construction and can be sold for about twenty-five cents. It will be seen that it is impossible for the disks to Work off the Wires or come loose after they are locked in position. The fence-wires can be tightened or spliced without pulling the staples which hold the wires in position from the posts. The disks are left'permanently on the Wires, and are therefore made of light weight.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for tightening and splicing wires, consisting of a disk slotted to form .wings the points of which are bent up out ends E curved down below the plane of the I body-plate, the disk having a stern by which it is rotated, substantially as set forth.

SHAPLEY P. ROSS TAYLOR. WILLIAM T. SHARMAN. JOSEPH L. JAMISON.

Witnesses:

H. TONE, FRANZ KOI-IFELDT. 

